Easel support



Nov. w, w49 H. N. TYsoN, .1R 2222,45

EASEL SUPPORT Filed March 51, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l j1 5 J5 5 /EQ fg 25 'J5 LZ/ 75 i4 Q@ w @25 (eff .Q5 Y 3? Nov. 19, ma, H N TYS'ON, JR 2,222,453

EAsEL SUPPORT Filed Mach 51, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 19, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

My invention relates to easel supports and more particularly to an easel support which is adjustable to support an easel in various positions.

Although the easel support disclosed herein is illustrated and described in a particular adaptation to the supporting of an easel in connection with photographic enlarging equipment, it will be apparent that there are many other adaptations therefor. As an example, the support might well be used for supporting an easel which holds the Work to be copied by a photostating machine. In fact, the structure is well adapted for uses in which a supported device is to be angularly and linearly movable to a predetermined position in a single plane and then locked in the adjusted position by the operation of a single locking element.

It is an object of my invention to provide a support for an easel, or the like, which is adjustable angularly and linearly in a given plane.

Another object of my invention is to provide an adjustable support for an easel, or the like, which may easily and quickly be locked in an adjusted position.

Another object of my invention is to provide a support for an easel, or the like, which may be anchored to a base and to which the easel, or the like, is normally attached in one of a plurality of angular positions; the support being adapted to permit adjustment of the easel, or the like, to intermediate angular positions and linearly with respect to the base.

Another object of my invention is to provide an adjustable support for easels, and the like, which may be locked in a particular position by movement of a single locking element and which is entirely made up of parts that are easily and cheaply manufactured and assembled.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description and references to the drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearly described and illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of one form of apparatus with which a preferred embodiment of my invention is adapted to be utilized;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top view of a preferred embodiment of my invention with parts cut away to emphasize the structural details of the invention;

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary sectional views taken substantially on lines 3--3 and 4 4, respectively, of Fig. 2 and in the direction of the arrows;

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary plan views of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 which emphasize certain features of my invention; and

Figs. 7 and f8 are plan views of certain parts of the apparatus shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 6.

With particular reference to the drawings, Fig. l illustrates one type of equipment with which my invention may be utilized. 'I'his equipment comprises photographic enlarging apparatus I 0 having a baseboard II to which an upright bar or standard I2 is secured by a flanged member I3. Picture projecting apparatus comprising a lamp housing I4, a lm carrier I5 and a focusing mechanism I6 are mounted on a bracket I1 which is vertically slidable on the standard I2 to varyv the size of the projected image. 'I'he bracket I'I is secured in an adjusted position by a thumb screw I8. An easel 2U comprising a board 2l, side masking strips 22 and 23 and adjustable masking strips 24 and 25 is utilized to hold the ,Y

sensitized paper upon which the image is projected. The masking strips 22, V23, 24 and 25 when adjusted to the proper size for a particular projected image, hold the sensitized paper at and mask the edges thereof to provide a border.

In order that a desired portion of a projected image may be composed to suit the taste and desires of the koperator and to project it at a desired angle upon a sensitized paper of a given size, the easel 20 is preferably movable to variy ous adjusted positions with respect to the base II. It is also desirable for making duplicate prints and for holding the easel steady that it may be locked in adjusted position with respect to the base II. It is for the accomplishment of the adjustment and locking of the position of the easel 20 that my invention is particularly adapted. It is understood, of course, that although the easel herein represented is illustrated in connection with photographic apparatus, it is also as Well adapted to holding a paper, or the like, which is to be copied on a photostat machine. There may also be other similar adaptations.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2 to 8, inclusive, a base plate 28 is secured to the base I I by screws 29 and 30 or other suitable fastening means. Arms 3I and 32 are rotatably secured to the base plate 28 by a suitable stud 33 having a head portion 34; the stud being secured to the base plate 28 by riveting at 35. The arms 3| and 32 are preferably spaced by a washer 36 that is mounted on the stud 33 between the arms 3| and 32. The stud 33 thus provides a common center of movement for the arms 3| and 32. The

arms 3l and 32 have enlarged and substantially Y,

`arm 43 and the spider 46.

438 by a rivet or other suitable means 5|.

ment of the arms.

An arm 43 has one end rotatably secured to the end of the arm 3| opposite the widened end portion 31 by a rivet or other suitable means 44. The other end of the arm 43 is rotatably secured by a rivet or other suitable means to an easel support which preferably comprises a spider 46. To effect the proper spacing between the arm 43 and the spider 46, a washer or bushing 41 is mounted on the rivet 45 between the To stabilize the'easel support or spider 46, the heads of the rivets 44 and 45are preferaply enlarged and of the proper size to engage the base I I and to provide feet.

VA preferred form for the rivet head is indicated at 49 in Fig. 4 on the rivet 45.

An arm 50 has one end rotatably secured to the end of the arm 32 opposite the enlarged portion The other end of the arm 50 is rotatably secured to the spider 46 by a rivet 52 or other suitablev means. The rivet 52 has a head 53 that is slidable on the base II` to provide a foot for supporting and stabilizing the spider 46. A washer or bushing 54 of the proper thiclness is mounted on the rivet 52 to properly space the arm 58 from the spider 46. The rivets 45 and 52 which secure the arms 43 and 59 to the spider 46 are preferably spaced apart to provide greater freedom and latitude of movement of the spider 46.

An auxiliary or locking arm 55 is rotatably secured to the arm 50 by a rivet or suitable fastening means 56; the rivet or fastening means 56 being located intermediate the ends of the arm 50. The auxiliary or locking arm 55 has a slot 51 therein that .extends angularly across the slots 40 and 4I in the end portions 31 and 36 of the arms 3| and 32. A stud 59 preferably has a square end portion 6|) that extends through the base plate 28 and is riveted to that base plate at 6I. This stud 59 extends Vthrough the slots 49, 4| and 51 and has a locking handle 62 threaded thereon. Washers such as 63 and 64 are preferably mounted on the stud 59 between the auxiliary or locking arm 55 and the arm 32 and between the arms 32 and 3 I. l

An easel support plate 66 is secured to the bottom of the easel 20 by screws such as 61 and 68. This easel support plate 66 is preferably centrally located on the bottom of the easel 20. A stud 69 is secured to the center of the easel support plate by riveting at 1II and projects from the easel support plate and away from the easel. This stud i'lts into a bearing 1I that is secured to the spider 46. The easel support plate has recesses or notches such as 12, 13, 14 and 15 in the periphery thereof tha are spaced at predetermined and angular positions. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the recesses 12, 13, 14 and 15 are substantially ninety degrees (90) apart. These recesses 12, 13, 14 and 15 fit and are engaged by an angularly disposed tongue 11 on the spider 46 to determine the angular position of the easel support plate 66 lar position ofthe easel is obtained and until the tongue 11 engages another of the recesses 12, 13, 14 or 15. This feature gives what might be termed a rough adjustment of the angular position of the easel 29 with respect to the base |I. vWith the locking handle 62 loosened by movement to a position such as that indicated at 62a in Fig. 2, the arms 3|, 32, 43 and 59 and the spider '46 are free to move to permit angular and linear adjustment of the position of the easel 20 Y with respect to the base II. Various adjusted positions of the easel 20 are indicated in Figs. 2, 5 -and 6 and by the dot and dash lines at 20h in Fig. 5. As illustrated, the easel is practically universally movable in a given plane with respect to the base II and may also be moved angularly for fine angular adjustment, as indicated by the dot and dash lines at 20a in Fig. 6. After the proper adjusted position of the easel 20 is attained, the easel is locked inthat position by moving the single locking handle 62 to tighten that handle with respect to the end portions 31 and 38 and the locking arm 55. The positions of the arms 3| and 32 are maintained by the clamping of the end portions 31 and 38 between the handle 62 and the base plate 28. ing of the auxiliary or locking arm 55 determines the positions of the arms 58 and 43 and the spider 46 and prevents movement thereof.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof,

What I claim las new and desire to cover b-y Letters Patent is:

1. An adjustable support for an easel or the like comprising, in combination, a base plate, a pair of arms rotatably secured to the base plate for rotary movement about a common axis, said arms having overlapping enlarged end portions,

said end portions having aligned arcuate slots therein whichv are concentric with .the axis of rotary movement of the arms, a spider having angularly disposed arms, one of the arms of said spider having an angularly projecting lug at the end thereof, a second-pair of arms each having one end rotatably secured to one of the ends of the irst mentioned pair of arms opposite the enlarged end portions thereof, said second pair of arms also having their other ends rotatably connected to the spider at spaced positions, an additional arm having one end rotatably connected to one of the said second pair of arms intermediate the ends thereof, said additional arm having a slot therein which crosses said arcuate slots, manually operable screw means extending through said slots for clamping the arms in fixed positions with respect to base plate, and a plate having slots therein adapted to engage said lug in any one of a plurality of different angular positions. l

The clampl 2. An adjustable support for an easel or the like comprising, in combination, a base plate, a pair of angularly disposed arms having widened end portions, one of which end portions overlaps the other, a single means rotatably securing the said arms to the base plate intermediate the ends thereof, said widened end portions having arcuate slots therein of substantially the same radius and substantially concentric with respect to said means, a spider, a second pair of arms, means rotatably securing each of the second pair of arms to one of the i'lrst mentioned pair of arms and to the spider, a locking arm rotatably secured to one of the second pair of arms and having a substantially linear slot therein extending across the arcuate slots, means extending through said slots for clamping the arms in a nxed position, and a plate supported by said spider.

3. An adjustable support for an easel or the like comprising, in combination, a base plate, a first pair of arms, means rotatably securing the arms to the base plate for rotary movement in parallel planes, each oi said arms including an end portion having a surface curved concentrically with respect to said means for rotatably securing it to the base plate, a second pair of arms each rotatably secured at one end to one of the first pair of arms, means rotatably secured to and connecting the other ends of the second pair of arms, a locking arm rotatably connected to one of the second pair of arms intermediate the ends thereof, said locking arm extending across the curved surfaces of said end portions, and a single clamping means for securing the locking arm and end portions in an adjusted position with respect to the base plate to lock the arms.

4. An yadjustable support for an easel or the like comprising, in combination, a main support, a first pair of arms, means rotatably securing the arms to the main support, a second pair of arms each rotatably secured at one end to one of the arms of said rst pair, means rotatably secured at spaced positions thereon to the other ends of the second pair of arms, a locking arm connected to one of the arms, and a single means for locking all of the arms and the last mentioned means in Xed adjusted positions.

5. An adjustable support for an easel or the like comprising, in combination, a main support, a plurality of arms and a spider rotatably connected together so that the longitudinal axes of the arms and one aXis of the spider together form a closed polygon and the arms and the spider are relatively angularly movable to adjust the position of the spider linearly and angularly with respect to the main support, means rotatably seouring one of the arms to the main Support, and means for locking the spider in a fixed adjusted position with respect to the main support.

6. An adjustable support for an easel or the like comprising, in combination, a main support, ve members rotatably connected together to form a closed polygon the shape of which polygon is varied by application of force to one of said members, means rotatably connecting two of the members to the main support, one of the other of said members providing an easel support, and means including extensions on the members that are rotatably connected to the base and an arm rotatably connected to one of the members for locking the member which provides the easel support in a xed position with respect to the main support.

7. An adjustable support for an easel or the like comprising, in combination, a main support,

a plurality of members rotatably connected together so that their longitudinal axes form a closed polygon, means connecting the members to the main support so that one of the members is rotatably adjustable and movable in any direction within predetermined limits in a given plane with respect to the main support, the said adjustable member providing an easel support and means including an auxiliary arm for locking the easel support member in a xed position. 8. An adjustable support for an easel or the like comprising, in combination, a main support; an auxiliary easel support member; means comprising a plurality of relatively movable elements connecting the easel support member to the main support; said easel support member, relatively movable elements and main support being pivotally connected so that the easel support is rotatably adjustable and movable in any direction within predetermined limits in a given plane; and a single manually operable locking member for locking the easel support member in a position to which it ls adjusted.

HOWELL N. TYSON, JR. 

